The greatest truth in all of Scripture is this: God is love. So says Henry Blackaby in his devotional book.
And we hear it so often, and I can say it to others, but have we really embraced that one MAJOR fact?
Here’s a good scripture to chew on –
“And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in Him.” 1 John 4:16
This is the apostle John speaking to early Christians who were being confronted with Gnostic teaching – and that was one of the most dangerous heresies. John was trying to expose these false teachers.
Gnostic’s central teaching was that spirit is entirely good and matter is entirely evil. Unbiblical teaching, for sure, and it led to believing man’s body, which is matter, is evil. Salvation, they taught, was by escaping from the body, not by faith in Christ. Since the body was evil, it was to be treated harshly. Since matter, and not the breaking of God’s law, was evil, this led to licentiousness and a total lack of morality.
I thought about the comparison of Gnostic teaching to what is going on in our world today – evil and lack of morality are being re-defined to fit a line of belief that I just can’t accept.
Back to Blackaby, he points out that if we truly understand “God is love” in its full dimensions, we will be set free to enjoy all that is ours as Christians. Now that sounds great to me – but I don’t quite understand. Digging deeper.
If we grew up experiencing unconditional love in our family, this may not be difficult for us. But, if our early years were void of love, this truth may be hard to accept. I would venture that the majority of us are in between those two opposites. So just looking back to think about the conditions on love that were displayed and “taught” in my family was an interesting exercise.
Blackaby’s point is that God loves us, not because we deserve His love, but because His nature is love. And that is the only way He will ever relate to us – in love. It gives us an inherent worth that nothing can diminish.
Just sit and bask in that a few minutes. That is wonderful…..but do I “really believe” it?
The problem, according to Blackaby is that if we cannot accept the truth that God loves us, we will be limited in how we can relate to Him. I DO want to relate to God – and yet it does seem hard to know if I am relating well. I question myself.
What is behind our questioning (if you are like me)?
When God disciplines me, if I take it not as an expression of His love but I resent Him (for what He is doing or not doing), then that is a sign of my lack of belief, it appears. Blackaby says when God says no to a request that is less than His best for you, you will conclude that He doesn’t care about you.
That is so true for me. How about you?
Blackaby explains – without a clear understanding and acceptance of God’s love for you, you will be disoriented to Him and to what He wants to do in your life. He says if we will accept God’s love, however, we will be able to return love to God as well as to others.
1 John 4:19 supports this – “We love because He first loved us.”
Here’s the test Blackaby gave – Are you experiencing the profound sense of joy and security that comes from knowing you are dearly loved by God? Being assured of God’s love for you sets you free to enjoy the numerous expressions of love He showers upon you each day.
As I struggle with where it appears God is sending me, and it is not the direction I have been praying and hoping He would send me, I have to sit and soak myself in this message. God loves me. Whatever He is doing in my life is aiming me toward His best for me – if I can understand and accept that, it is very freeing and enriching. (nope, didn’t say it was easy)
So, I just visited several of my favorite verses describing the love of God – what a lift! I recommend that. Meanwhile, I leave you with Jude 1:21 – “…keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.”
